Portable solvent degreaser



INVENTOR. JOH/V F 514671 2 Sheets-Sheet l f rm,

TTOPNEYS.

Oct; 21, 1941. J. F. BLACK PORTABLE SOLVENT' DEGREASER Filed May 22, 1940 Patented Oct. 21, 1941 PORTABLE SOLVENT DEGREASER John F. Black, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Circo Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 22, 1940, Serial hlo. 336,635

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to degreasing apparatus and more specifically to a solvent vapor'generating appliance which is designed primarily for suspension as a unitary structure upon a gear casing or a similar mechanism having a lubricant therein. 1

The object of the invention resides in the provision of mechanism for the suspension of a receptacle of grease solvent upon and in fluid communication with the casing to be cleaned and further to an electrical heating unit adapted for securement upon the receptacle. As contemplated herein, the receptacle is preferably relatively light in weight in order to minimize the strains imposed upon the supporting medium therefor, for example, the commercial tin can shown herein which is of the type customarily discarded after the contents thereof have been used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch which is designed to break the circuit to the electrical heating unit at a predetermined time: to operate a signal showing theelectric circuit is opened and to operate a second signal showing when the circuit is closed.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appearin the following description, which considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary portion of an automobile rear axle housing illustrating the improved degreasing unit in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the improved degreasing apparatus, portions thereof being shown in vertical section;

mentary portion of a modified form of the electric heating unit and can.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the automobile rear axle chosen herein as typical of one of the embe used comprises a housing In having a cover plate ll secured thereon by cap screws It, the screws being seated in tapped holes which extend through the wall of the housing. As illustrated, the housing I0 is formed with an opening l3 in the lower portion thereof, which is provided to facilitate the drainage of the lubricant therein. In practice the opening 13 is closed with a pipe, plug or cap screw, not shown, though it will be understood that in axles or gear casings of a character which are not prqvided with a drain plug that any of the through bolts in the bottom of the chamber may be removed to accommodate the drainage of the casing.

In the use of the apparatus embodying the present invention one of the cap screws in the upper portion of the cover plate II, or if the structure is so designed, the oil filler plug is removed and a tube l4 having a threaded end portion is screwed therein and locked, if desired, by a jam nut I5. The opposed end of the tube is provided with a substantially rectangular plate l8 of slightly greater length than the opening l1 in the top of the can l8 but narrower than the diameter thereof (Fig. 5) to facilitate the entry of the plate within the opening ll as the can is tipped or rocked thereover. The portion of the tube above the plate is threaded for the recepbodiments with which the present invention may tion of a knurled thumb nut H which is adapted to impinge the flange 20circumambient the opening I! when he nut is screwed into abutting position therewith.

The electric heating unit comprises a resistance coil 2| embedded within a ceramic disc 22 which is configured for intimate engagement with the base of the can l8. ,SI'he heating element is provided with the terminals 23 which are connected with a cable 24 of the type customarily employed in heating units of the character similar to that employed herein. The heating element is encased within the cup 25 having laterally disposed lips 26 in the upper face thereof which are perforated for'the support of abail 21. The upper portion of the bail is bent in semicircular form for engagement with theupper face of the can adjacent the bead in the peripheral edge thereof. The central portion of the arcuate section of the ball is bent upwardly and laterally to form a loop which provides a finger grip or handle 28 to facilitate the manipulation of the bail in the assembly thereofupon the receptacle or can I 8. The free ends of the bail 21 are threaded to receive nuts 29 for the support of the springs 30 disposed intermediate the lower face of the lips 26 and the nuts 29. I v

As shown in Fig. 2, the conduit 2% is provided with a time switch 3! encased within a housing or junction box 32, the lead cable therefor having a wall plug 33 upon the end thereof. The time switch 3i may be of any of the well known commercial forms which are capable of breaking the circuit after a predetermined lapse of time and operate an annunciator 3d coupled therewith. The junction box 32 is further provided with an incandescent lamp 35 wired into the electric circuit in such a manner as to'indicate the flow of the electrical current to the heating ele- 'ment2l.

ing and adjusted to a position where the major portion of the tube is disposed in a vertical plane.

The screw cap from thecan of solvent is next removed, the can then being adjusted with the flange 2B in the mouth thereof in suspended relation upon the upper face of the plate it. The nut '59 is then positioned into clamping engagement with the flange, thus effecting the support of the can in fluid communication through the tube id with the interior of the gear case or housing H3. After the drain plug or screw in the base of the housing is removed, the electric heater is clamped in position by first seating the heating element upon the base of the can, then hooking the spring pressed bail over the top thereof. The time switch key 36 may then be actuated to close and sustain the circuit for the predetermined period of time necessary to vaporize the solvent in the can It. Obviouslythe size and volume of the receptacle-for the solvent must be determined for each size of gear casing and the operating time of the heater must be adjusted accordingly. During the period in which the circuit is closed the illuminated signal light 35 will indicate that the heater is in operation. When the time clock operating mechanism breaks the circuit the attendant is notified by the annunciator 3d that the vaporization of the solvent in the can l8 has been effectuated. v

As illustrated in the modified structure shown in Fig. 6, the base of the receptacle 3? is formed with a deep drawn concave dome to provide a greater heating area in the receptacle and likewise provide a pilot for centering the heating element thereon. The electrical heating element is of complemental configuration, the resistance coil 38 therein being preferably designed to efiect a greater transmission of heat at the center of .the dome or the point of most intimate contact with the receptacle in order to induce the volatilization of the solvent with suflicient pressure to assure the circulationthereof into the gear casing or oil chamber to be cleaned.

As the hot solvent vapors come into contact with the cooler metal parts of the casing and the gearing therein, the vapors will be condensed and the grease and solvent condensate will fiow through the drain opening in the bottom of the casing.

of and/or a unit which may be refilled or partially filled and repeatedly used.

It will be recognized from theforegoing that the equipment embodied in the present invention is economic of manufacture and susceptible of use with expedition and dispatch, since, as has been found in practice, the volume of solvent required in the average application is small enough to accommodate the self.sustained support of the apparatus and the ready installation thereof.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminologyis not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifica= tions of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

1 claim:

1. A. degreaser for a gear case comprising, a.

tin can having an opening therein, a flange about said opening, a tube threaded into an opening in said gear case, a plate on the free end of said tube adapted for reentrant engagement within the opening in said can and abutting engagement with said flange, a nut on said tube engageable with said flange, an electrical heater and a clamping mechanismthereon for supporting said heater on said can.

2. A portable degreasing apparatus for gear casings comprising, a receptacle having a flanged opening therein, a tube screw threaded into an opening in said casing, a plate on the free end of said tube, the end portions of said plate being engaged upon assembly with the inner face of the flange in the receptacle, a nut screw threaded on said tube engageable with the outer face of the flange in the receptacle, an electrical heater configured for intimate engagement with the bottom to said receptacle and a spring pressed clamp for 1 and means coordinated with said heater to break In the practice of the invention the heater is preferably made to accommodate the use of a can of solvent of the type offered for sale in the open channels of commerce, a new can of solvent being used with each degreasing application though it will be understood that the invention also contemplates the use of a receptacle having the heater incorporated therein as a part therethe electric circuit thereto at a predetermined time.

4. A degreaser adapted for suspension from a housing comprising, a can of solvent, a tube having one end thereof in fluid communication with r the solvent in said can, means upon the opposed end of said tube for attachment to said housing,

and an electrical heater detachably connected to said can of solvent.

5. A portable degreaser comprising, a reservoir having a concave portion in the base thereof, a conduit connected to said reservoir and adapted to facilitate the suspension thereof upon the unit to be cleaned, a detachable electric heater for said reservoir, said heater having a convex portion thereon adapted for intimate engagement with the concave portion of said reservoir and constituting a pilot bearing therefor.

6. A degreasing apparatus for gear casings comprising a tin can of solvent, a conduit and a heater united as a portable unitary assembly, means for attaching said conduit to the gear casing in fluid communication therewith, means for the suspension of said can in fluid communication with said conduit, and means for the attachment of said heater to said can.

opening therein,

7. In combination with a housing havingan mechanism for degreasing said housing comprising, a can of solvent, a conduit and a heater, means on. said conduit for the securement thereofv within the opening in said housing, means on said conduit'for the suspension of said can in fluid communication therewith,

and means on said heater for the attachment thereof to said 'can.

8. A portable degreasing apparatus for gear 10 casings embodying a can, a supporting tube therefor detachably mounted upon said can, an electrical heater and means thereon for detachably connecting said heater to said can.

9. A degreaser for gear housings comprising, a receptacle for a solvent, a tube supporting said receptacle in fluid communication with the housing and .a heating element clamped upon theouter face of said receptacle.

- JOHN F. BLACK. 

